Two new Paintings by Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw’s ‘Madonnas of the Boombox’ are a pair of paintings completed in 2024. Although the images are mirrored, each painting is unique and different. Painted with acrylic on canvas, the paintings explore different technical aspects of paint, color and texture while being precisely composed with geometric metaphor, and crisp cultural commentary.
The RED painting features a figure painted with vibrant opaque cadmium colors, subtle glazing, metallic effects, and a high gloss background of metallic gold glazed over natural sienna. The halo is created with red crystal rhinestones and creates a glowing effect from viewing angles.
The BLUE painting has a thick coarsely textured background that radiates with the figure’s halo. Contrasting the texture, smooth, deeply glazed blue robes can appear both brilliant and saturated, or subtle and dark. The skin of the “Black Madonna”, is delicately glazed in gold over a black pearl base.
From the artist:
“ I was looking for some lighter subject matter when I decided to create the two ‘Madonna of the Boombox’ paintings. I’ve always had an interest in technology’s rapid obsolescence and how quickly familiar objects can change, or disappear altogether. The boombox is a great example. With an instantly recognizable iconic form, coupled with a size that lends itself to being cradled, the ‘Madonna of the Boombox’ was probably an overdue addition to my roster of modern icons. I decided to dive into tradition a bit and paint a “Black Madonna”, a somewhat rare and interesting form of icon. I also decided to use 3 arms on the figures – amazingly, this is also a traditional form, and seems perfect for holding a boombox.”
Each painting is acrylic on canvas with rhinestones. 30″ x 40″
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When Saint Javelin became a viral meme in February 2022 one of the first things I did was to remake the image by my own hand. Perhaps it was a futile attempt to reclaim my art from the internet somehow, or maybe it was just that the first viral alteration was a bit sloppy in places. St. Javelin has since circled the globe both digitally and physically printed. and continues to show up in some amazing places, it’s been fascinating to watch and experience. (See my previous posts on St. Javelin and her origin as Madonna Kalashnikov)
As the original artist, I wanted to make my “official” Saint Javelin painting be something that would stand out from anything printed or digital, but not vary too far from the original form. With a pure cadmium green base, I used subtle glazing to build up deep transparent tones in the robes. Multiple thick layers of black for line art are used to bring texture around smoothly painted areas of color. The background is gold leaf over a red base, then buffed and varnished like a traditional icon.
The Saint Javelin painting is 30” x 40”, acrylic and metal leaf on canvas, completed in March 2022.
Please inquire for info on this artwork or to commission your own custom Icon.
